Open AccessCrystal shedding and acute pseudogout. An hypothesis based on a therapeutic failure
Author(s) -
Bennett Robert M.,
Lehr James R.,
McCarty Daniel J.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
arthritis & rheumatism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1529-0131
pISSN - 0004-3591
DOI - 10.1002/art.1780190116
Subject(s) - pseudogout , medicine , crystal (programming language) , gout , computer science , programming language
Four patients with chondrocalcinosis of the knees volunteered for joint lavage. Preliminary experiments indicated that disodium EDTA and magnesium ions were potent solubilizers of CPPD crystals. The procedure was a therapeutic failure in that insignificant amounts of CPPD were removed and all 4 subjects developed postlavage attacks of pseudogout. It is hypothesized that the acute attack of pseudogout is a result of crystal shedding and may be triggered by any factor that enhances CPPD solubility.